Passions

in World Encyclopedia

Adepts claim their power comes from within. They forget their ability to shape and wield magic was taught to them by the Passions.
•Kenza Boh, Questor of Astendar •

The spiritual beliefs and customs of Barsaive are shaped by the Passions. These powerful beings are a mystery, but most scholars believe that the Passions are given shape by the collective emotions and ideals of Namegivers. Debate continues over whether the Passions brought these concepts to the people of Barsaive, or whether the Passions were brought into being by the collective power of cultural ideals such as Love, Wealth, Growth and more. This debate has only grown in the wake of the Scourge. Most common folk find the debate pointless, as whatever their origins, the Passions are real beings that have the potential to affect daily life.
Those who channel the power of the Passions are called questors. Unlike adepts, these men and women draw their extraordinary powers from the Passions. The magical forces of the universe flow through the Passions to their questors. The questors then bring the Passions to the common folk across the world. Following a Passion gives a questor the same kind of focus an adept receives by following the tenets of his Discipline. The questor’s life becomes a living metaphor for the ideals embodied by his chosen Passion; throughout his life, he strives to express those ideals in word and action. Most questors fervently and vividly live out this commitment, adding as much color and energy to the world as magicians and adepts.
Most people assume that what is known about the Passions holds true for lands beyond Barsaive. It would be strange if magic interacted with the world in different ways from place to place. Yet the world is often strange, and perhaps magic does change. If the Passions are shaped and brought into being by Namegivers, then Passions known in Barsaive may not exist on the other side of the globe, and other Passions may take their place. It is also possible that men and women in distant lands know the same Passions but call them by different names. Whatever the truth, the Passions are an important part of daily life in Barsaive, and their influence is felt in many ways.